“For many years, George Gresham and I have worked shoulder to shoulder building a national moral movement that unites working people across all backgrounds to fight for good union jobs with high wages, defend civil rights, and demand quality healthcare for all. When we were engaged in Moral Mondays, he didn’t just voice his support or send money. He showed up and submitted to arrest. He is a courageous and visionary fighter who has put 1199SEIU at the center of the most important economic and social justice issues of our times.
“He has an unmatched record fighting for his members and working people nationwide, and we are right now mobilizing together to defend against healthcare funding cuts. George Gresham has led and continues to lead 1199SEIU in a way that would still make Dr. King say what he said in the 1960s: ‘1199 is my favorite union.’ If we ever needed George’s model of committed, strong, unflinching, never-forgetting-the-people style of leadership, it’s right here and right now in this moment of our nation’s history. We need him and the team he brings to help lead the fight back in these perilous times when we must continue to strive towards the healing of the nation.”
—Bishop William J. Barber II
The nation’s most prominent civil rights leader
Listen to Bishop Barber talk about why he's supporting 1 Union 1 Future
Nation’s Top Labor and Civil Rights Leaders Endorse 1 Union 1 Future
Top labor and civil rights leaders are strongly endorsing the 1 Union 1 Future slate, headed by President George Gresham, Secretary-Treasurer Milly Silva and members from across 1199SEIU. Our team has the proven track record and political clout to build a national movement to protect our rights and freedoms, fight healthcare cuts, and keep winning better wages, benefits, jobs and quality care.
—Patrick Gaspard
Served as Director of the White House Office of Political Affairs for the Obama administration and the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, among many other national leadership positions
“George Gresham is an unparalleled force for worker power, who continues to deliver victories for 1199 members which are the envy of our entire labor movement. From the best-in-the-nation wage and benefit standards he has won, to successfully fighting to stop healthcare cuts, to his tireless advocacy for civil rights and social justice causes, his proven leadership exemplifies the very best of what being a union president is all about. We need vigorous, nationally-recognized leaders like him to unite the strongest coalition to fight back against threats to unions and the services working people depend on. I can think of no person more capable and qualified to lead 1199 at this critical moment, and I am proud to endorse George and his team.”
—Clayola Brown
International President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute
One of the most prominent labor coalitions in the nation and part of the AFL-CIO